Northern Michigan dual TV channel ID

[Scooter]

Can someone please explain the point of dual TV IDs in Northern Michigan? IE 9&10 4&7 29&8. With digital television, the secondary ID can now be dropped as it is all virtual channels anyway. It just seems so clunky.

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[rugratsonline]

Can someone please explain the point of dual TV IDs in Northern Michigan? IE 9&10 4&7 29&8. With digital television, the secondary ID can now be dropped as it is all virtual channels anyway. It just seems so clunky.

I believe it's because they still use two transmitters covering two geographical areas of Northern Michigan, with 7, 9 and 29 covering the Cadillac / Traverse City area; and 4, 8 and 10 covering the Straits and SSM. Also, FCC regulations mandate that they still use the PSIP that correspond to their original analog channel.

[edj]

The FCC allows to map to either old analog or new digital frequency. Low power translators are allowed to change their PSIP to the originating stations but apparently full power satellites aren't.

[organman95]

Can someone please explain the point of dual TV IDs in Northern Michigan? IE 9&10 4&7 29&8. With digital television, the secondary ID can now be dropped as it is all virtual channels anyway. It just seems so clunky.

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If my understanding of FCC rules is correct, I believe any channels running the same programming (ie, simulcast) owned by the same company have to show visual ID of those channels. So, station IDs cannot be all individual.

[hunterw]

If my understanding of FCC rules is correct, I believe any channels running the same programming (ie, simulcast) owned by the same company have to show visual ID of those channels. So, station IDs cannot be all individual.

Wonder how local 32 (fox) gets away with not displaying 45 except on the TOH ID.

[edj]

TOH ID is all that is required.

[organman95]

TOH ID is all that is required.

I stand corrected.

[TC Talks]

We have so many ID's because it takes more that just one station to cover all the excitement that is Northern Michigan.

[Bull Shannon]

Honestly it's also probably just the legacy of "brand recognition" -- they've been "9&10," "7&4," and "29&8" for decades. Plus, it's unique. There aren't that many markets that have the dual-station setup like that.

[Ben Zonia]

1. Built before the Mackinac Bridge was complete, making access for maintenance and sales force access much easier.
2. WPBN-TV was on the ridge West of Traverse City and couldn't overlap their Grade B contours.
3. All things considered, it was the best place in the Lower Peninsula to reach Sault Ste. Marie. Channel 4 at 66-72 MHz had better fringe coverage than a High VHF would from there.

I think the limitation in height had to do with being near an Air Force Military Operations Area controlled airspace zone. Phelps Collins Airport had a larger footprint for ANG Operations at the time as I recall.

[kager]

The question I want answer is why does WTOM-TV have its tower in such a stupid location?

Well, if memory serves correctly, the Black Bear (strip club) was very nearby the WTOM-TV studios back in the 60/70's...

I'd guess both entities no longer exist.

[rugratsonline]

The question I want answer is why does WTOM-TV have its tower in such a stupid location?

Well, if memory serves correctly, the Black Bear (strip club) was very nearby the WTOM-TV studios back in the 60/70's...

I'd guess both entities no longer exist.

WTOM still exists, but in the digital era, its signal no longer reaches SSM. It now uses a subchannel of WGTQ to accomplish this.

Likewise, WGTU also feeds WPBN on a subchannel, and both WPBN and WTOM do the same feeding WGTU / WGTQ.

[organman95]

WTOM still exists, but in the digital era, its signal no longer reaches SSM. It now uses a subchannel of WGTQ to accomplish this.

Likewise, WGTU also feeds WPBN on a subchannel, and both WPBN and WTOM do the same feeding WGTU / WGTQ.

I've often wondered though, (I have not looked up the countour map), is WTOM needed? I believe WGTQ covers all of WTOM's area plus the UP.
Same with WGTU. Last I knew, WGTU and WPBN are on the same tower in Kalkaska. - So what's the point?

What *should* be done, is the FCC shouldn't allow shell companies at all. Breakup ABC/NBC, and CBS/FOX. Then boost WTOM power to cover its original area.

[Ben Zonia]

The main problem with WTOM on Channel 16 (482-488 MHz) is terrain shadowing. They always had terrain shadows, even on Channel 4 (66-72 MHz), but at that low frequency range, the signal easily diffracted over hills and filled most of the shadows. The other stations have translators to fill the terrain hole in Traverse City. It might be a good idea to acquire an existing translator from the Hudson Lookout or Good Hart towers. That would serve Petoskey, Harbor Springs, and other low elevation areas near Inland Lakes.

The WTOM signal is very good in line of sight areas.